Open Data

Draft: MindSphere

MindSphere is an open cloud platform or “IoT operating system” [1] developed by Siemens for applications in the context of the Internet of Things ( IoT ). [2] MindSphere stores operational data and makes it accessible through digital applications (“MindApps”) to enable industrial customers to make decisions based on valuable factual information. [3] The system is used in such applications as automated production and vehicle fleet management. [2] [4]

Examples include real-time telemetric data, data collection, time series data and geographical data, which can be used for predictive maintenance or to develop new analytical tools. [4] [5]

Overview

As cloud-based PaaS ( platform as a service ), MindSphere collects and analyzes all kinds of sensor data in real time. [4] This information can be used to optimize products, production assets and manufacturing processes along the entire value chain. [6] MindSphere’s open application interfaces make it possible to obtain data from machines, plants or irrespective fleets of the manufacturer. [2] These interfaces include OPC Foundation’s OPC Unified Architecture ( OPC UA ). [7]

To help customers create their own software and services, MindSphere is working with open application programming interfaces (APIs) and development tools. [2] [3] This allows OEMs to integrate their own technology. [8]

MindSphere is based on the concept of closed feedback loops Enabling the bi-directional data flow entre Production and development: [9] Real-world plants, machinery and equipment can be connected to MindSphere in order to extract operational data. [2] Valuable information (eg ” digital twins ” of machines) can then be extrapolated from the raw data through analytics and used to production processes and environments in the next cycle of innovation. [3] [6] [10]